1. Bill Gates
Net Worth - $59 billion

There's no doubt that Bill Gates is a genius. He built Microsoft with a mission and a dream. Gates left the ivy strewn walls of Harvard to start the Microsoft we know, and accuse of being a corporate monopoly, today. He never finished his degree, but he received an honorary degree, in 2007, from Harvard, and other various academic institutions. He had the right idea, just become a notable wealthy man and universities will line up to award you degree. No senior thesis needed. 

2. Sir Richard Branson
Net Worth - $8 billion

This billionaire from across the pond set the bar on billionaire drop out irony, whetting his business whistle with a magazine titled Student, which had a readership that should not take notes from Branson. It seems that Branson had a lucky roll of dice, winning a jackpot including about 360 companies and his own island.

3. Steve Jobs
Net Worth - $6 billion

The iEverything mogul dropped out of Reed College after one semester, but had a knack for everything we can't live without. As the CEO of Apple, Inc., he has been labeled one of the most powerful businesspeople in the world.

4. Ralph Lauren
Net Worth - $4 billion

A native of the "Boogie Down" Bronx, this designer known for his must-have polos and high end line Rugby, never made it past his sophomore year at CUNY Baruch. Lauren never even touched the doors of a fashion school. Lauren had a brief stint at Brooks Brothers and then branched off to design his own ties, this small venture led Ralph Lauren to his current billionaire status.

5. Michael Dell
Net Worth - $17 billion

This name should be familiar to readers, since his namesake is attached to Dell, Inc. Dell is the CEO and founder of the computer giant. After enrolling at the University of Texas-Austin, it wasn't long before Dell figured that campus life wasn't for him. Dell started PC's Limited in his dorm room and gained enough profits and a loan boast from his grandparents to drop out of UT to build his business now known as Dell, Inc.

6. Kirk Kerkorian
Net Worth - $18 billion

Kirk Kerkorian's academic career ended after eighth grade to pursue a rewarding life in the boxing world. This dream was short lived and after a couple of career moves, Kerkorian ended up being a key figure in building up the bright lights in sultry Las Vegas, Nevada. 

7. Paul Allen
Net Worth - $18 billion

Paul Allen reportedly lured Bill Gates, to take the plunge into computer software bliss to create Microsoft. Allen skipped out on Washington State University, after two years, to work for Honeywell as a programmer. Good thing he dropped out, cha-ching!! 

8. Larry Ellison
Net Worth - $25 billion

Co-founder and CEO of the Oracle Corporation, Ellison dropped out of the University of Illinois to grieve the loss of his adoptive mother. He tried continuing his studies at the University of Chicago but computer programming set him off his path. Ellison has not finished his degree and has no plans to since he has already made his billions.